Biological Flashcards
What are the main assumptions of the biological approach?
- Human behaviour can be explained by looking at biological stuff such as hormones, genetics, evolution and the nervous system.
- Unwanted behaviour could be modified or removed using biological treatments such as medication for mental illness.
- Experimental research conducted using animals can inform us about human behaviour and biological influences because we share biological similarities.
How many chromosomes do humans have?
46.
What are chromosomes made up of?
A coil of DNA.
How are genes relevant in psychology?
They ate important in the development of the brain and therefore have a role in our behaviour.
What is the genotype?
The genes a person has.
What is the phenotype?
The characteristics a person genes produce.
How can genetics explain psychological traits?
- Faulty genes are known to cause some diseases that have psychological effects.
- Biological psychologists believe genetics can explain psychological traits such as gender behaviour, sexual orientation, intelligence and personality.
- Study genetics to see which genes make people more likely to develop mental illness or addiction.
What is the method, result and conclusion of Gottesman (1991)?
- Carried out a meta-analysis of
approximately 40 twin studies. - It was found that having an identical twin with schizophrenia gave you a 48% chance of developing it as well, this was reduced to 17% with non-identical twins.
- In conclusion, schizophrenia has a strong genetic basis.
What is the evaluation of Gottesman (1991)?
- Carried out on field studies which gave the research high ecological validity.
- Only half of identical twins developing schizophrenia means that there is another factor involved.
- Identical twins are normally treated more similarly than non-identical twins which means the family environment plays a significant role.
What is the method, result and conclusion of Heston (1966)?
- 47 adopted children whose biological mothers had schizophrenia were studied.
- Control group consisted of 50 adopted children whose mothers did not have schizophrenia.
- The children were followed up as adults and were interviewed and given intelligence and personality tests.
- 5 of the 47 became schizophrenic.
- 0 of the 50 became schizophrenic.
- 4 of the 47 were classified as borderline schizophrenic.
- The study supports the view that schizophrenia has a genetic basis.
What is the evaluation of Heston (1966)?
- Interview data can be unreliable and affected by social desirability bias.
- However, interviews are a good way of getting data in a naturalistic way.
- The control group haven’t shown any symptoms yet so it cannot be ruled out.
What are the 5 basic techniques used to examine brain activity and anatomy?
- PET scans.
- CAT scans.
- MRI scans.
- Functional MRI scans.
- SQUID magnetometry.
How do PET scans help psychologists?
- Shows which parts of the brain are active during different tasks.
- Can link certain areas of the brain with particular functions.
- Allow us to see where the brain is most active when we’re thinking about certain things.
How do CAT scans help psychologists?
- Detect damaged parts of the brain such as tumours and blood clots.
- Brain structure is show but not the functions.
How do MRI scans help psychologists?
- Detect small tumours.
- Provides detailed information about brain structure.
How do functional MRI scans help psychologists?
- Provides structural and functional information.
How does SQUID magnetometry help psychologists?
- Produces accurate images of brain activity by measuring the magnetic fields generated when neurons are activated.
What was the method of the research was carried out in Maguire et al (2000)?
- MRI scans from 16 licensed male London taxi drivers were compared with a control group who had never driven a taxi.
- All the taxi drivers has been working for at least 18 months.
What were the results of Maguire et al (2000)?
- The average size of the right posterior hippocampus was significantly larger amongst the taxi drivers compared to the control group.
- The longer they had been working the larger their right posterior hippocampus was.
What was the concluded in Maguire et al (2000)?
The hippocampus is responsible for storing a spatial representation of the environment.
What are the positive evaluations from Maguire et al (2000)?
- Findings could be used to help those with brain injuries as it shows that the size of structures within the brain can be influenced through cognitive activity.
- Rehabilitation can be tailored to the specific needs of individuals and their injuries.
- Good level of control and could be replicated which increases its reliability.
What are the negative evaluations from Maguire et al (2000)?
- The small sample size decreases its validity.
- Can only be generalised to male taxi drivers in London.
- Can’t be generalised to other areas of the brain.
What did Bard and Mountcastle (1948) find regarding aggression?
- Lesioning areas of the brain of cats led to changes in levels of aggression.
- Their research suggests that the hypothalamus and amygdala are involved in aggression.
What did Miller et al (1957) find regarding memory?
- HM was unable to use his LTM effectively.
- Suggests the hippocampus has an important role in LTM.
What did Szeszko et al (1995) find regarding psychopathology?
- There were differences in the prefrontal cortex when comparing people with and without schizophrenia.
- Suggests there’s a relationship between the prefrontal cortex and schizophrenia.
What are the strengths of the biological approach?
- Provides evidence to support or disprove a theory.
- Very scientific approach.
- Biological treatments can be used to help individuals with mental health issues.
What are the weaknesses of the biological approach?
- Doesn’t take into account the influence of individual’s environment, their family, childhood experiences or social situations.
- Using this approach as an explanation for negative behaviour can lead to individuals not taking personal or social responsibility for their behaviour.
